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| Re: Thanks Arnold [message #175242 is a reply to message #174481] |
Tue, 18 October 2005 10:58   |
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SuperMidget
Messages: 465
Registered: November 2004
Location: Barrie, ON
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| NukeIt15 wrote on Wed, 12 October 2005 11:55 |
It's the idea behind it that is problematic, not the practice. Parents are already supposed to be the key of the ratings system. This sort of legislation does four things:
1. It fingers videogames as a cause of violence in children, which is a claim that we already know holds no water.
2. It removes responsibility from the parents, it does not give them more. This bill says, in no uncertain terms, that parents can't be trusted to watch what their kids are into, so the government should play watchdog instead. That is dangerous ground to tread on.
3. As a result of #2, parents get the message that they don't HAVE to watch what their kids are doing anymore, BECAUSE the government will do it for them. Another shaky assumption, which leads to parents that are less and less responsible (and more and more apathetic) about their childrens' behavior and upbringing.
4. Paves the way for lawsuits against the entertainment industry. While the parents are paying less attention tot heir kids, and the government is only pretending to care, the kids go out and do their thing anyway, having not learned differently from anybody. The parents, shocked and appalled, are quick to shift blame from themselves to what they see as the source of their childrens' behavior. And what more obvious scapegoat than the violent videogames that the government was supposed to be regulating?
In short, this won't do shit except for making things worse. If little 8-year-old Timmy goes out and buys Doom 3, it's supposed to be Mommy and Daddy's job to catch him playing it, give him a lecture, and make him return it. That's parenting. That's how people learn what is and is not appropriate- by trial and error. Remove the possibility of making an error, and you're never going to earn a lesson from it, are you?
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Nukeit, you raise some extremely idealistly valid points, but they are viewed (by you) to be way off center.
For the number 2 AND 3 suggestion, it does NOT remove the responsibly form the parents, little 8 year old Timmy should not be ALLOWED to buy that Doom 3 game. It's like why the strip joints keep out people 18 and under out of their stores. Law states this to be done. Don't you think it is even REMOTELY possible, that the government should also pass legislature (that's idea, by the way, was brought up by and voted for by the public of your country) that disallows citizens that are not of a agreed mature age to purchase these items? Be honest with yourself and you'll soon see that I got a point.
As to number 4, in no way will this pave a way for easy lawsuit against the entertainment industry. The parents elected a board (called the ESRB) to govern the restrictions and label contents of games' material and content. Why would they throw a lawsuit at simply jacking ratings? Now I'm not saying that the WHOLE public is together with one standard opinion, but if anything they're would be a lawsuit against them for their ratings to be not strict enough (This is in regards to the GTA 3: San Andreas upgrade that recently occurred).
Parents now a days are too busy to be there 100% for their children (especially the gaming age 10-15). A vast population suffer from poverty (NOT homelessness), single parenting, or depression. As for the working class, they often have sitters or let the kids stay home alone for most of the rest of the day. They don't have TIME to govern and punish their children's deviant actions. The government is merely trying to HELP you by funding ESRB and letting them practice.
Get off your government's back, they're trying pretty hard. That's not to say that there's NO corruption or false practice, but for the main part, it works, so let it be. (Not applicable to Americans, I disagree with almost every action that Bush has done.)
As to close, I just wish to tell you that you are a very talented arguer, and this is just for friendly competition, nothing personal 
Wanna fight? www.hobowars.com
Bring it on...
[Updated on: Tue, 18 October 2005 10:59] Report message to a moderator |
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